Lock for track doors



Sept@ 15, 1931. u E. M, JOHNSON 1,823,104

LOCK FOR TRACK DOORS Filed Sept. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ggg/@ Wm@ Sept. 15, 1931. E. M. JOHNSON Locx FOR TRACK DooRs Filed Sept. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c .m ...d

Patented Slept. 15, 1931 rarfr enrich EMIL M. JOHNSON, 0F GORMAN, SOUTH DAKOTA LocK Fon TRAGK Doons Application led September 23, 1929.

This invention appertains to closure fas# teners and more particularly to a novel latch for sliding doors.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide an improved latch for sliding doors which is so constructed that there will be no projecting parts in the doorway, thereby permitting the free passage of draft animals and the like through the door opening without danger of the harness catching in parts of the latch.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a latch for sliding doors which can be readily and quickly applied to the door and door frame and which is so constructed that when the parts are in their interconnected position movement of the door both laterally and longitudinally of the door frame is precluded.

A further salient obj ect of my invention is to provide a latch for slide doors embodying a manipulating handle for the door operatively connected to the latch member, whereby when pull is exerted on the handle, the latch member will be moved out of engagement with the keeper carried by the door frame.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for retaining the handle in its normal position, said means also constituting a thumb piece for permitting the operation of the latch from the inside of the door.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved latch for sliding doors of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be incorporatedl with a conventional slide track door and frame at a small cost.V

`With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a door and door frame showing my improved latch incorporated therewith and in its operative position;

Serial N o. 394,574.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary edge elevation of the meeting edge of a sliding door showing my improved latch incorporated therewith and with the door frame;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the novel 0perating handle and the thumb piece normally retaining the handle in its operative position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the position of the operating handle when the latch is being actuated;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail perspectiv view of the frame for the latchproper, an

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the keeper which is adapted to be secured to the door frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved latch for a door B slidably mounted longitudinally of a door frame C.

The door B is of the type generally em,- ployed for barns and like structuresrand is slidably supported from a suitable trackway carried by the upper portion of the door frame, and the door is adapted to slide over the outer face of the door frame C to close the door opening, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. in accordance with my invention, the forward edge of the door is provided with a horizontal slot 10 at the point where the body portion of the latch is to be associated therewith. y

My improved latch A 'includes a frame 15 preferably formed from strap iron or the like and is bent from Aa single strip of metal and includes inner and outer side plates 16 and 17 and a connecting front plate 18 which overlies the front of the slot 10. If preferred, the opposite faces of the door B can be cut so that the side plates 16 and 17 can be .countersunk therein. A suitable bolt 19 extends through the door B and through the inner ends of the side plates 16 and 17 for holding the frame in position. The inner plate 16 is provided with a slot 2O which registers with the slot 10 in the door and alines with a keyhole shaped slot 21.. formed in the front plate f8. The purpose of the slots 20 and 21 will hereinafter more fully appear, and it is to be noted that the plate 17, at its. point off connection), With the front plate 18, is provided with a vertical slot 22. l the inner face of the outer plate 17 and eX- tends into the slot 10 of the door B: and' surrounds, an opening 241. formed in the outer plate;17... Theinner plate. 16 in. directV transversefalinement with thebarrel 23.is provided with an enlarged opening 25, for a purpose which. will be later described. If preferred, a smaller. bolt2` cany be passed' through the door and the inner and outer plates 16and17 adjacentto the. front. edge and. on each side of the. slot 10 in the. door for'holding the plates in position against movement.

Secured-tothe outer face of thedoor frame C isthekeeper elementQG which is also pref erably made; -fromA sheet metal suitably bent and. pressed into the desired: form. The keeper 26 includes a tapered barrel portion 27 having a keeper notch 28 therein at a. point. intermediate its.endsand the barrel127. is connected. with the4 attaching flanges29 by side connecting walls. 30. The attaching flanges 29. areprovided withopenings 31-.whereby the keeper caribereadilysecured tothe outer. face ofthe door frame, and it is to be noted that.

when. the. door is moved, toits closed position, the tapered. barrel portion 27 will ride into. the keyhole shaped opening 21 and into thev slot, 10 formedv inthe door.. Owingl` to. the construction. of theba-rrel andthe keyhole slot 21,r lateral. shiftingl movement of the door relative tothe frame is precluded..

A latch bar 32cextends-through thevertical slot 22 and isadapt'edto rideon the tapered; outer face ofthe barrel 27 and into the notch 28 for. retaining thev parts ink theirk latched position. The latch bar 32is formed. onandV bent atright angles to the ar1n= 33-of the U shaped manipulating handle 34,. the inner end: ofwhichcan be provided Vwith an: eye35 so as to permit the connectiontherewith. with the bolt 19., whereby the handle will be held in proper position.

A. slide rod: 36 extendsk through. the barrel 23. and. opening 211 and isprovided with an outer hooked end 37 whichf extends` through an opening 38formedinathe*ha-ndle34; rEhe outer end.. of. the rod. 36.. is provided: with. a thumb-piece. 39 whichmay be in they nature ofa nut and whichis normally disposedfwithinlor adjacent to the opening 25,.the wall. of which may be tapered toward said. thumb piece. An expansion spring 40 isl coiled A barrel 23 is carried by about the rod 36 and is placed within the barrel 23 and bears respectively against the thumb piece 39 and the inner face of the plate 17. This normally holds the handle in its inner position and the latch bar 32 in engagement with the keeper. Y

Itis preferred to make the handleof resilient, material whereby when pull isaexerted on the handle the same will Hex so as to move the latch bar 32 from out of the keeper recess 281 It-is: obvious, however, that the handle can be connected by means of a hinge joint with` the` eye 35, if preferred.

In operation of the improved. latch, the

door isclosed' in the ordinary manner and it is. obvious that the inclined end of the latch bar 32 riding-,on theinclined face of the barrel 27 of the keeper will spring the handle a11d,latchy bar outwardly and when the latch bar comesintc alinement with. the keeper re.L

cessf28, the same willi spring intothe. keeperl recess or' notchr andA thereby. prevent, sliding,

movement.. ofthe door. relative to the. door frame.

Zhen it isV desired to open. the door the:

handle 34 can be grasped and pulled, out.- Wardly which willv flex the same' andl allow the keeper bar 32, to. be. moved. out ofthekeeper notcliafter which the door canbeslidf onits track to openthe, same.. Itis. also obvious that itis merely necessary to press.

departing fromthe spirit or the scope of thisinvention, but.:

What I clai'm as new is:

1. A latching mechanism of theclass 'described, comprising a frame adapted to be securedvto af door and havi'nga notch formed at. one end thereof adapted' to receive a keeper-and a second notch formed in said frame opposite saidA first' mentioned` notch, a resilient handle secured to said frame. and provided with an inwardly extending latch bar passing through said second mentioned notch adapted tor engage a keeper, a transversely' extendingbarrel formed upon the inner face of`said` frame, a spring-pressed rod slidably mounted within said' barrel and guided in its movements thereby, sai'd rod engaging said handle and normally holdingjthe' same' in a locked position and. permittingyieldable outward' movement.- ofv saidY handle for` the purr pose of unlockingthe` same.

2; A latchihg: mechanism of the: class' described, comprisinga comparatively flatcas'- ing comprising' a pair of substantially parallelmembers. having one end connected' by means of a front plat'e,.said` parallellmembers provided with a longitudinally extending notch communicating with a cut-out portion formed in the Jfront plate to constitute a keeper-receiving notch, said casing provided with a slot at the junction of the front plate with one of the side members and said slot being arranged opposite said keeper receiving slot, a handle secured to said casing and provided with an outwardly extending handgripping loop, the forward end of the handle normally lying snugly against said casing and provided with an inwardly extending end passing through said last mentioned slot, a spring-pressed rod carried by said casing, guiding means for said rod, said rod provided with an angularly bent end engaging said handle for normally holding the handle in a locked position.

In testimony whereof I ai'x my signature.

EMIL M. JOHNSON. 

